Loki

Chapter 6B: Always.

"I understand your moral objections to what the TVA does." He Who Remains stated. "And my methods are deceptive. But the mission, it never was. Without the me...without the...T-V-A...everything burns."

"Then what are you so afraid of?" Loki asked.

He Who Remains paused for a moment in hesitation before answering. "Me."

"And just who are you?" Sylvie asked, not failing to maintain the sass in her voice.

"Oh, I've been dubbed many names, by many people." He said. "A ruler, a conquerer. He Who Remains. A jerk. But it's not as simple as a name."

He Who Remains fiddled a bit with his Tempad before flicking a piece of material out of it. The material transformed into the image of a man.

"Eons ago, before the TVA, a Variant of myself lived on Earth in the 31st century. He was a scientist and he discovered that there were universes stacked on top of his own. At the same time, other versions of us were learning the same thing."

He Who Remains continued. "Naturally, they made contact. And for a while, there was peace. Narcissistic, self-congratulatory peace. "I love your shoes." "I love your hair." "Oh, man, nice nose." "Thanks, man." Et cetera. They shared technology and knowledge." The image shifted into two men at a table holding Reset Charges. "Using the best of their universes to improve the others. However..." He said, taking another chomp from his apple. "Not ever version of me was so...so pure of heart. To some of us new worlds meant only one thing: new lands to be conquered."

The image shifted to a man lifting a globe in one hand and a Time Stick in the other.

"The peace between realities..." He Who Remains imitated an explosion noise. "...erupted into all out war. Each Variant, fighting to preserve their universe and annihilate the others."

The image shifted to several Variants in combat with each other.

"This was almost the end, ladies and gentlemen, of everything and everyone."

"And then the Time Keepers came and saved us all." Sylvie said.

"A-a-a-a-..." He Who Remains sang while holding his hands in prayer position. "...-men....no." He chuckled. "No, this is where we diverge from the dogma. That first Variant encountered a creature. Created from all the tears in reality, capable of consuming time and space itself. A creature..." He Who Remains said, leaning in closer. "...you both know."

"Alioth." Loki answered.

"Bingo. I harnessed the beast's power and began experimenting on it." He said, adding more ferocity into his voice. "I weaponized Alioth and I ended...I ended the Multiversal War." Then softened his voice. The image transformed into a scientist surrounded by a single ring. "Once I isolated our timeline, all I had to do was manage the flow of time and prevent any further branches. Hence, the TVA. Hence..." He stood up, one step at a time onto his chair, then his desk. "...the Time Keepers and a highly efficent bureaucracy. Hence ages...and ages of cosmic harmony, hence..." He dropped down into a crouch with a smile. "...your welcome."

He Who Remains pressed a few buttons on his Tempad and the visual presentation dissolved.

"So you came to kill the devil right?" He asked with smirk as he dropped down from the table. "Well, guess what? I keep you safe. And if you think I'm evil, well just wait until you meet my Variants."

Sylvie and Loki looked at each other.

"Aaaaand that's the gambit!" He proclaimed. "Stifling order or cataclymic chaos. You may hate the dictator but..." He let out a puff of air. "...something far worse is going to fill that void if you depose of him. I've lived a million lifetimes. I've gone through every scenario. This is the only way. The TVA...it works."